feel
feel definition
feel (fēl)
transitive verb felt, feeling feel′·ing
- to touch or handle in order to become aware of; examine or test by touching or handling
- to perceive or be aware of through physical sensation to feel rain on the face
- to experience (an emotion or condition) to feel joy, pain, etc.
- to be moved by or very sensitive to to feel death keenly
- to be aware of through intellectual perception to feel the weight of an argument
- to think or believe, often for unanalyzed or emotional reasons he feels that we should go
Etymology: ME felen < OE felan, akin to Ger fühlen & L palpare, to stroke < ? IE base *pel-, to fly, flutter, cause to tremble > OE fīfealde, Ger falter, butterfly
intransitive verb
- to have physical sensation; be sentient
- to appear to be to the senses, esp. to the sense of touch the water feels warm
- to have the indicated emotional effect it feels good to be wanted
- to try to find something by touching; grope (for)
- to be or be aware of being to feel sad, sick, certain, etc.
- to be moved to sympathy, pity, etc. (for)
noun
- the act of feeling; perception by the senses
- the sense of touch
- the nature of a thing as perceived through touch the feel of wet sawdust
- an emotional sensation or effect the feel of happiness
- instinctive ability or appreciation a feel for design
feel Idioms
feel like
☆Informal to have an inclination or desire for I feel like some ice cream
feel (like) oneself
to feel normally healthy, fit, etc.
feel one's way
to move or advance cautiously, by or as if by groping
feel out
☆ to find out the opinions or attitude of by a cautious and indirect approach
feel strongly about
to have decided opinions concerning
feel up
Slang to fondle sexually: a mildly vulgar usage
feel up to
Informal to feel capable of
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